Evaluation of Outcomes Following Arthroscopic Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome Across Different Surgeons, Surgical Techniques, and Postoperative Protocols: A Multi-institutional Study

Background: Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) is frequently treated arthroscopically with osteoplasty and labral repair. Surgical preferences vary in terms of equipment, technique, and postoperative protocol. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are valuable tools to assess outcomes across different institutions.

Purpose: To compare PROMs after FAIS arthroscopy and evaluate the impact on postoperative outcomes with independent surgeons utilizing different surgical techniques and postoperative protocols.

Study design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods: Prospective data were collected from patients with a 2-year follow-up after arthroscopic FAIS treatment by 2 orthopaedic surgeons from different states, each attending different sports medicine fellowships. Patients were matched according to age, sex, and body mass index. Data included patient characteristics, surgical findings, and the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) preoperatively and 2 years postoperatively. Patients with revision surgery, concomitant procedures, or incomplete pre- and postoperative data were excluded. Surgeon A utilized interportal capsulotomy, capsular repair, all-suture anchors, and a postoperative hip brace. Surgeon B employed periportal capsulotomy without repair, polyether ether ketone suture anchors, and no brace. The 2 high-volume arthroscopists (>100 hips/year) performed osteoplasty and labral repair and used a large perineal post. Cohorts were analyzed with appropriate t tests, with significance set at P < .05. The percentage of patients achieving minimal clinically important difference (MCID) was calculated using Pearson chi-square tests.

Results: A total of 176 hips (100 women, 76 men) were included, with 88 matched patients from each institution. The mean age was 33.7 years and the body mass index was 26.3 kg/m². Both cohorts significantly improved in all 5 HOOS subscales 2 years after surgery. When comparing the mean change in PROMs and the percentage of patients achieving the MCID, differences were only observed in the HOOS-Sports subscale (cohort A: 25.3 ± 29.7 vs cohort B: 34.3 ± 29.7; P = .048; MCID achieved in 57% of patients vs 76%; P = .01).

Conclusion: This prospective cohort study on arthroscopic FAIS treatment indicates that matched patient cohorts from different institutions show similarly improved PROMs at 2 years. This study suggests consistent patient outcomes across sites despite geography, surgeon, training, surgical technique, implants, and postoperative protocol.